Sport
European Athletics Championships Tips: 12th August
Wednesday is a busy day in William Hill’s athletics betting markets with the men’s 400 metres, women’s hammer throw, and women’s 400-metre hurdles among the medals being handed out at Alexander Stadium.
Men’s 400 Metres
Jonas Phijffers and Muhammad Abdallah Kounta topped their semifinals with respective personal bests. Kounta’s 44.38 was the third-fastest time by a European in 2026.
Matthew Hudson-Smith, the highest-ranked European 400-metre runner and the European with the fastest time in this event in 2026, is still considered the man to beat ahead of Wednesday’s final.
Winner at the European Indoor Championships last year, Attila Molnár will also pose a threat. Phijffers getting the better of Hudson-Smith might make him the value pick to pick up gold, though.
Men’s 110-Metre Hurdles
Just Kwaou-Mathey is the 11/10 favourite for the 110-metre hurdles ahead of Jason Joseph (5/2). Milan Trajkovic, who posted the quickest time in the first round of the event, is out at 50/1.
The highest-ranked European, and by a considerable margin at that, Enrique Llopis is sitting at 4/1. Llopis’ fastest time this year is only 13.31, but he won silver in Rome two years ago and landed silver at the World Indoor Championships earlier this year.
The betting markets show how close this promises to be. Llopis has the pedigree, so there’s value at 4/1, but the form of Kwaou-Mathey and Joseph is going to attract bettors aplenty.
Women’s 400-Metre Hurdles
A bronze medallist at the World Championships last year, Emma Zapletalová has the fastest time by any European this year. She didn’t set the world alight in the semis, but Zapletalová is clearly in a league of her own with Femke Bol opting not to participate.
Paulien Couckuyt topped the timing charts in the semis, though a personal best was still half a second off Zapletalová’s season best.
If you’re after a longshot pick, we’d consider backing Ayomide Folorunso. The Italian hasn’t got much of a track record when it comes to medalling at major events, but she put in a great performance in the semifinal.
Women’s Hammer Throw
Finns Silja Kosonen and Krista Tervo are the top-ranked finalists in the women’s hammer on Wednesday. Sara Fantini is the biggest threat to the Northern European dominance of this event – the Italian went 75.62 metres last month, which could be enough for gold in Birmingham.
Katrine Koch Jacobsen topped the qualifying charts and has won the European Throwing Cup in two of the last three years. Beatrice Nedberge Llano might have been second in qualifying, but she’s not shown the ability to throw long enough to compete with the pair of Finns, Fantini, and Jacobsen.
Fantini and Anita Włodarczyk look like the best bets here given their recent big throws.
